By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Auburn school officials are close to signing off on the purchase of 60 acres of land pegged as a potential new school site, though it’s uncertain whether voters will see a building proposal at the March 2007 Town Meeting.

“It’s a very good piece of land to put a school on,” said school board member Kathleen Porter, noting positive results from recent boundary surveys and archaeological reviews.

As to what the land may host, the the school board sent a letter to Candia to see if Auburn’s neighbor to the northeast would have any interest in entering a tuition agreement for a new middle school.

“I think they’re not interested because, basically, they want a more permanent arrangement,” said Auburn School Board Chairman Elaine Hobbs.

Candia School Board Chairman Karen Smith couldn’t be reached by press time.

But Porter said a joint arrangement with Candia is also unlikely, as state law requires several years’ Town Meeting approvals before a cooperative can be formed.

Plus, said Porter, “whenever you depend on two towns, it’s just more complicated.”

Auburn officials are also unlikely to pursue building an Auburn-only middle school, said Porter, because the cost of operating the school would be too high.

“We need an affordable solution,” said Porter.

Porter and Hobbs each said such a solution to the space woes at the Auburn Village School are needed sooner rather than later, and said an Auburn-only elementary and middle school building is being considered.

“We’re definitely feeling the need right now,” said Hobbs.

Since voters approved the $686,000 purchase of the 60 acres off Hooksett and Dollard roads at March’s Town Meeting, a board-sanctioned school board site planning committee has been devising a plan of action.

Three subcommittees ­ one studying public kindergarten, another studying current school space needs and the other in charge of public relations and fundraising ­ plan to report to the school board at its Sept. 12 meeting.

The site committee’s charge includes a report on the “state of the (current) school,” said Hobbs, researching and comparing building options, and surveying the community about building options.

Though the school board has been working with Team Design, a Manchester-based architectural firm, Porter said there aren’t yet any firm figures tied to any potential school plans.

“There’s a lot that needs to happen before we consider going to the voters in March,” she said.

Many school officials have been pushing for a new school in Auburn for at least the last seven years. In 2000 and 2001, voters rejected $7 million plans to bring a new middle school to a Raymond Road site.